SHAMANIC ICONOGRAPHY/ 'Among the Spirit Nodes' by Eric Whollem/ A pictographic abstract painting/ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

AMONG THE SPIRIT NODES

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

15" x 10"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

SHAMANIC ICONOGRAPHY

Shamans in various cultures believe that certain places in nature

are imbued with special spiritual powers.

Adrian Smith, a Concow Maidu Indian, and former head of the Butte

County Tribal Council, personally took me to various rock art sites

in California...in Plumas and Siskiyou County.

I have also seen petroglyphs in the Middle Fork Canyon of the Feather

River.

When I was a boy, my father took me on his mining trips to the high

Sierras. We saw a large petroglyph site in Plumas County. This inspired

my interest in rock art, which has lasted all my life.

______________________

This link will take you to my posts about ROCK ART:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/pictographs%20and%20petroglyphs

THIS VIDEO PRESENTS MY

APPROACHES TO ROCK ART

AND CALLIGRAPHY

ERIC WHOLLEM                                   

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THE FACE OF THE VOID by Eric Whollem/ FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM/ An abstract mixed media painting

THE FACE OF THE VOID

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

15" x 10"

Collection of Jessica Strock

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

__________________________________

View more posts of EXPRESSIONISTIC PAINTINGS:

http://artlblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/expressionism

SEE MY VIDEO

ABOUT FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONISM

ERIC WHOLLEM                                         

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'CONTEMPORARY ART Eric Whollem'/ A fine art video/ featuring 'ETHERIC ORGANIC' an abstract painting from 1985~plus a cross section of works from over the years

ETHERIC ORGANIC

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Etheric Organic is just one painting featured in my new fine art

video on Youtube: 'CONTEMPORARY ART Eric Whollem.'

                                        Contemporary Art Video

___________________________

See more ABSTRACT ART on these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/abstract%20art

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MAIDEN IN A BANDANA/ Visions of the Muse/ DIGITAL ART by Eric Whollem

Maiden in a Bandana

2009

by Eric Whollem

mixed media digital art

Copyright by the artist.

THE MUSE

This digital art image is a vision of my Muse. Usually I typify my

muse by the name of Madge, for Imagination. See the links below

for more posts on the subject.

Below are some selections of digital art images of my muse in her fairy

form from my image gallery on Picasa Web Albums...from my Digital

Fairy Art album specifically.

THE TURQUOISE GARDEN

2010

by Eric Whollem

digital art

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

PRINTEMPS

2010

by Eric Whollem

digital art

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

________________________

Read more about the MUSE on these posts:

http://artlblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20muse

THE VIDEO BELOW PRESENTS

A SELECTION OF MY PAINTINGS

Contemporary Art by Eric Whollem      

                

See more of my CONTEMPORARY ART on these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/contemporary%20paintings

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ALCHEMICAL MOTIFS IN MODERN ABSTRACTION/ Homeopathy in Art/ 'The Alchemist's Table' by Eric Whollem, 1982, a mixed media work on paper incorporating natural earth pigments/ Introducing a new video from Eric Whollem's Youtube Channel: MIXED MEDIA PAINTINGS

THE ALCHEMIST'S TABLE

1982

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

12" x 10"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

HOMEOPATHY IN ART

Homeopathic approaches to art, wherein natural pigments are offset

with painting media from industrial sources, could be interpreted as

an alchemical approach to art. Homeopathy is considered as an aspect

of the healing arts. Mixed media painting could be construed as a form

of homeopathic art.

THE ALCHEMIST'S RETORT

1986

by Eric Whollem

9" x 6"

gouache resist on paper

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The painting above, entitled, The Alchemist's Retort, is an example of

the sympathetic approach to art, wherein ideas are expressed through

images or symbols. The symbols in the image above are pictographic.

Sympathetic approaches to art are another aspect of alchemy.

______________________

See more of my posts on ALCHEMY:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/alchemy

THE VIDEO BELOW PRESENTS

MY APPROACHES TO MIXED MEDIA

OR HOMEOPATHIC PAINTING

                                                     Mixed Media Paintings                       

  

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DIGITAL ART PHOTOGRAPHY/ 'Symphony of the Prima Materia'/ ALCHEMICAL SYMBOLISM/ An abstract photograph by Eric Whollem 2011

SYMPHONY  OF THE PRIMA MATERIA

2011

by Eric Whollem

digital photograph

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

MODERN ART PHOTOGRAPHY

This modern art image is a digital photograph taken in 2011. It is part of

a series of texturologies taken in an urban mileau.

The 'prima materia' or 'primal matter' is a term from alchemy. The search

for the prima materia was one of the goals of many alchemists.

This photo seems to symbolize sulphur, arsenic and mercury, the three

primary elements in ancient alchemy.

___________________

Readers may be interested in my posts of painted GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTIONS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/geometric%20abstractions

Geometric Abstractions Video

                                      See more of what I have to say about ALCHEMY on these posts:   

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/alchemy 

ORPHIC INITIATION by Eric Whollem/ Mythographic Art: the Ancient Mysteries/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Notes on the Eleusinian Mysteries

ORPHIC INITIATION

1981

by Eric Whollem

wax emulsion on paper

10" x 8"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

MYTHOGRAPHIC ART

The Ancient Mysteries

Orpheus is said to have brought the rites of the Egyptian mystery religion to

ancient Greece. He brought the cult of Demeter, the Mother Goddess from the

realm of the Nile north to Greece, where at the time the cult of Dionysius was

in full sway.

The image above depictss the Abaton, or Pit of Initiation. The Hierophant with

his rod of initiation ministers to an inititate, who envisions the Goddess as part

of the initiatory process.

The Eleusinian Mysteries were just one of a number of mystery schools that

developed in Greece over the years. The Eleusinian Mysteries, from their

center in Delphi, were famous for their oracle to which people from all across

the Mediterranean world came for insight.

ORPHIC NEOPHYTE

An earlier post of mine, 'Orphic Neophyte' gives a good account of the

Eleusinian Mysteries. Below is the lead image for this post:

ORPHIC NEOPHYTE

1983

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

See my post:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/2010/02/orphic-neophyte-symbols-of-initiation.html

________________________

See my posts on INITIATION for more insight into the ancient mysteries:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/initiation

THE VIDEO BELOW

PRESENTS MORE OF MY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS

Figurative Paintings by Eric Whollem                       

See more of my posts of ABSTRACT ART:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/abstract%20art

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'CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION Kuksu in the Art of Eric Whollem'/ A video from Eric Whollem's Youtube Channel/ Yongkodom, Hipiningkodom, and Kakinimkodom/ THE THREE LEVELS OF THE MAIDU SPIRITWORLD

HIPININGKODOM

The Valley of Heaven

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

21" x 15"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION

The Concow Maidu Indians of Northern California divide their Heavenworlds

into three zones. Hipiningkodom, or the Valley of Heaven, is the second level.

The painting above shows the spirit of Aki the duck.  Aki is a leading symbol of

the Kuksu Religion, as traditionally practiced by the Maidu. In the upper left hand

corner is seen Hiki, the great snake whose movements created the valleys and

canyons of the world.

See my video below for an overview of Maidu traditions in regards to religion.

                         A video about the religion of the Concow

Yongkodom

The first level of the Maidu heavens is the Flowerland. The painting

below shows Aki in the flower country.

In the Flowerland each person becomes a flower after death. Good

people get the best places in Yongkodom, while the bad people get

places of inferior beauty, but everyone becomes a flower.

AKI IN YONGKODOM

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

Kakinimkodom

Kakinimkodom, the Country of the Spirits, is the highest level

of the Maidu heavens. The heavenworlds manifest in the realm of

Wonomi, the Earth Initiate, who lives at Histayami, the Sutter

Buttes, a small mountain range in the center of the Sacramento

Valley.

KAKINIMKODOM

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

21" x 15"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

_________________________________________

See more of my posts about the MAIDU INDIANS on this link:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidu%20indians

See more about KUKSU:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/kuksu

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THE KUKSU/ Concow Maidu Traditional Dances Reflected in the Paintings of Eric Whollem/ COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER/ Notes on Frank Day, the last of the old time leaders of the Concow Maidu/ EARTH PAINTS

DANCE OF THE KUKSU

1985

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on paper

21" x 18"

Collection of Herb Puffer

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE BIG HEADS

The sacred dances of the Concow Maidu Indians of Northern

California include the Big Head dancers, who wear oversize

headdresses. These represent the spirits. Frank Day, the last of

the old time leaders of the Concow Maidu, was pivotal in

reestablishing the traditional dances of the people.

Frank Day was a great artist, making many of his paints from

natural pigments that he gathered himself.

The religion of the Maidu is called Kuksu, based on the legends

of the first man, Kuksu, who was born of mud on Table Mountain

above Oroville, California.

KAKINI

1985

by Eric Whollem

earth pigments in polymer emulsion on panel

8" x 10"

Collection of Herb Puffer

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

The painting above is an earth painting by Eric Whollem,

made from earth colors ground in a mortar.

A 'kakini' is a spirit being. The Maidu word used here is linguistically

related to the Hopi 'kachina.'

The Maidu are said by some to be distant relatives of the Mayans

who migrated north.

__________________________

See more about KUKSU on these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/kuksu

Concow Maidu Culture in the Art of Eric Whollem                

See more of my EARTH PAINTINGS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/earth%20paints

                

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PANO KAKINI/ Concow Maidu Shamanism in the Art of Eric Whollem/ Medicine Animals/ MIXED MEDIA PAINTING

PANO KAKINI

1985

by  Eric Whollem

21" x 15"

India ink, parafin, tempera on paper

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

THE BLACK BEAR

Pano, or the black bear, is a medicine animal highly

regarded by the Concow Maidu Indians of Northern

California. Pano kakini translates as 'bear spirit.'

Maidu shamans, or doctors, in the old days would

personify the black bear, who is said to have healing

powers.

The doctors who used  the old ways would dress up

in a bear skin and advance towards the patient with

moth coccoon rattles. This would frighten the sickness

from the sick person.

There also is a history of other bear doctors who were

not so good. These were the Grizzly Doctors. They

were greatly feared.

OTHER POSTS AND LINKS

The links below will take the reader to other blog posts

about the Concow Maidu. I have also shown one of the

fantasy stamps that I created as an art project; it shows

an image of the 'Bear Doctor.'

I have created a number of videos that show my art that

relates to Maidu culture. The music soundtracks are by

Kevin MacLeod, whose work he calls 'Thunderhead' recalls

the sound of the rattles used by Maidu shamans.

Sokotem is the old  Maidu word that means 'moth.'

_______________________

See my posts on SHAMANISM:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/shamanism

THE VIDEO BELOW PRESENTS

MORE OF MY ART THAT

RELATES TO MAIDU CULTURE

Concow Maidu Video           

See my posts on MEDICINE ANIMALS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/medicine%20animals  

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

PANO KAKINI

bear doctor Maidu fantasy stamp

by Eric Whollem

SPIRIT ANIMALS

by Eric Whollem

THE VIDEO BELOW

TALKS ABOUT THE SPIRIT ANIMALS

OF THE CONCOW MAIDU

ERIC WHOLLEM                                   

                       

See my posts that talk about the CONCOW MAIDU INDIANS:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/maidu%20indians

THE VIDEO BELOW

RELATES MORE ABOUT THE

KUKSU RELIGION OF THE

MAIDU

ERIC WHOLLEM                                      

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THE SUNBOAT by Eric Whollem/ An ancient pictographic archetype/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION/ Notes on Jung's Collective Unconsciousness and Heyerdahl's Theories of Cultural Diffusion

THE SUNBOAT

1984

by Eric Whollem

mixed media on  paper

9" x 6"

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

ARCHETYPES OF THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUSNESS

Carl Jung, the famous psychologist, developed a theory to the effect that

human cultural expressions often manifest as emanations from what he

termed the 'collective unconscious.'

The generally accepted opposing theory is that similar cultural expressions

in regions far removed one from the other are manifestations of diffusion,

wherein motifs are spread through migration, exploration, or other contacts

made by travellers.

The Sunboat, is an archetype that appears in very diverse locations: such as

Siberia and Egypt. This might suggest that it was developed independently,

or is a proof of Jung's theory of the collective unconsciousness. In my own

art I created the Sunboat design originally without any awareness of the

controversies surrounding the image. It seemed to arise from my own

consciousness, rather than any book or image that I happend to view.

The painting above is not my first (and 'innocent') depiction of the Sunboat

motif. I have painted it numerous times subsequently, as in the case of the

image depicted above.

The Sunboat

1985

by Eric Whollem

earth paints on panel

4' x 3'

Collection of the artist

COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST

This earth painting, made from natural pigments, painted in 1985 depicts

the Sunboat in the form generally seen in artistic images around the world.

The Sunboat is said to be comprised of a ship form with a central mast to

which a circular form with a cross is affixed.

I am not personally a Jungian, in fact, I champion such advocates of

diffusionism as Thor Heyerdahl, who posited years ago that seafarers

have for centuries been able to travel vast distances across the oceans

of the world. Heyerdahl's Ra and Kon Tiki expeditions, featuring ocean

going reed boats bear witness to the plausibilty of his theories.

Jungians favor the example of the widespread maze forms found in

greatly diverse areas of the world, as 'proofs' of Jung's collective

unconsciousness theory. Jung may have derived his theory in part from

the works of Helene Blavatsky, who in her book, 'The Secret Doctrine,'

spoke of the 'collective consicousness.'

________________________

See more of my PICTOGRAPHIC ABSTRACTIONS on these posts:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/pictographs%20and%20petroglyphs

THE VIDEO BELOW

DEPICTS MORE OF MY

WORKS OF A PICTOGRAPHIC CHARACTER

Video by Eric Whollem                               

See more of my posts on ARCHETYPES:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/archetypes

This link will take you to my posts on THEOSOPHY, for those interested in the works of Helene Blavatsky:

http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/theosophy

Readers may be interested in what Wikipedia has to say about the SOLAR DEITY:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity

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